Tag: FIFA

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ runner-up Bert van Marwijk is to take the helm of the United Arab Emirates. The Dutchman, who led Australia at Russia 2018, takes over from Alberto Zaccheroni, who called time as coach after leading them to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup in January. The former Netherlands boss, who guided Saudi Arabia through qualifying to reach the last World Cup, will be presented to the media on Thursday afternoon, ahead of the a friendly pitting his new side against his former Green Falcons…

Ronald Koeman has overseen a transformation in the Netherlands’ fortunes The Dutch topped a UEFA Nations League with France and Germany Koeman speaks to FIFA.com about the reasons behind their revival When Ronald Koeman became Netherlands coach last February, he found a football nation wallowing in misery. And with the long faces came an even longer list of problems. The negativity was understandable. Since finishing third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, the Dutch had endured two miserable qualifying failures and been through three different coaches. Nor did improvement seem…

BARCELONA (Reuters) – UEFA proposals to change part of the Champions League format would be “catastrophic” for soccer but FIFA plans to overhaul the Club World Cup will be a boon for the sport, La Liga president Javier Tebas told Reuters on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: La Liga President Javier Tebas smiles during an interview with Reuters at the La Liga headquarters in Madrid, Spain, October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Paul Hanna/File Photo Tebas lashed out at changes he said Europe’s governing body is considering making to the Champions League, saying they would…

Bertrand Traore scored four goals in 16 first-team appearances for Chelsea in all competitions Chelsea have been denied a request to freeze a transfer ban while they appeal against the punishment handed out by Fifa. The Blues have been banned from registering new players until January 2020 for breaking rules over the signing of foreign under-18 players. Chelsea deny any wrongdoing and have appealed against the decision. But Fifa says it has denied measures which would see the transfer ban frozen during the appeal process. Chelsea were charged after Fifa…

Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller no longer considered for Germany selection 2014 winners told the shock news by coach Joachim Low Low: “We are sending a clear signal of renewal” Germany coach Joachim Low has revealed that he will no longer consider Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller for international selection. The trio, key players in the side that secured the country’s first world title in 24 years at Brazil 2014, drop out as part of “a new start for the German national football team” in 2019,…

Chelsea have appealed against Fifa’s decision to ban them from signing players in the next two transfer windows. It follows the world governing body’s investigation into Chelsea’s signing of foreign under-18 players. Fifa says it found breaches in 29 cases out of 92 investigated, including striker Bertrand Traore, now at Lyon. The governing body says it has received an appeal but could not confirm when this would be heard. Chelsea have also been fined £460,000, while the Football Association has been fined £390,000. The ban, until the end of January…

Representatives from Qatar and FIFA recently visited four proposed 2022 FIFA World Cup™ stadiums to assess progress and further familiarise themselves with the venues. The group, which comprised local experts from Qatar and FIFA staff, visited Al Wakrah Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium – Al Khor City and Al Rayyan Stadium. They assessed various stadium facilities, including competition areas, ticketing, marketing, media, broadcasting, IT, hospitality, protocol, security and health and safety. Khalifa International Stadium’s redevelopment was successfully completed in 2017 and is currently being prepared to host the…

ZURICH (Reuters) – World soccer body FIFA imposed a lifelong ban on Wednesday on the former deputy boss and head of finance of Zambia’s football association, Boniface Mwamelo, for having accepted bribes. “The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Boniface Mwamelo, the former treasurer and vice-president of the Football Association of Zambia, guilty of having accepted bribes in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics,” FIFA said in a statement. Along with a ban for life from all national and international football-related activities, Mwamelo was given a…

Emiliano Sala was presented as a Cardiff City signing three days before the crash Fifa is investigating the transfer payment for Emiliano Sala after Nantes made a claim against Cardiff City. Premier League side Cardiff were due to pay the first of three instalments for the £15m striker on Wednesday. Argentine Sala, the Bluebirds’ record signing, died aged 28 in a plane crash in the English Channel on 21 January. “We can confirm we have received a claim. We are looking into the matter,” said a spokesman for world football’s…

Berizzo last coached Athletic Bilbao in 2018 It will be his first time managing a national team His competitive debut comes at the Copa America Eduardo Berizzo has been named the new head coach of Paraguay, the Paraguayan Football Association confirmed on Monday. The 49-year-old replaces Juan Carlos Osorio, who parted ways with La Albirroja after just five months at the helm. Berizzo’s official presentation, which will include details about his accompanying technical staff, will take place on 22 February. His first competition will be the Copa America in Brazil,…